The Plume: The First Anthology (19 page)

Mike chuckled, his fingers moving more demandingly against her.

Vlad’s rival threw off the larger man, then seized the platform as it swung away from the two men who fought over it. He shoved one hard enough that that man went down, then hauled himself up on the platform beside Tess. He grinned at her and she gazed at him with adoration.

Then he banged her hard and fast, to the sounds of the members cheering. Tess moaned in delight, her cries as she reached orgasm making Athena grin.

“One more fantasy fulfilled at the Plume,” Mike muttered. “How many is it now?”

“Thousands,” Athena whispered into his ear. “Two more pending.”

He gave her a look, then, his eyes so piercingly blue that she wondered whether he’d figured it out.

Tess and her captor were swung out to the perimeter again, the other men climbing out and removing their vests. The mood was celebratory and laughter rang out from the excited members. The winner locked a heavy collar around Tess’s neck before she was unchained, then tossed her over his shoulder to secure his claim.

“Private Room Five is reserved for the victor,” said the master of ceremonies and the members cleared a path to that destination for the triumphant man.

“And now, round two,” said the master of ceremonies. The spotlights swirled in a frenzy, the members returning to the rail with anticipation. Athena’s mouth went dry and she gave Mike one last thorough squeeze before the spotlights locked upon him.

She stepped back as the guards closed in, watching with delight as Mike realized that he would be next.

“But you said they were volunteers,” he protested in an undertone.

Athena laughed. “I volunteered you, slave of mine.”

Mike gaped at her, his eyes wide, his cock hard. He looked disheveled and uncertain and absolutely fuckable.

And the game had only just begun.

* * *

It turned out that there was a small white washroom hidden behind a wall panel in Joanna’s cell. She was locked in there by Annette after the Master was done with her and commanded to wash herself. She wondered how they would know when she was done, then spied the gleam of a lens half buried in the wall.

They could watch her everywhere.

Sure enough, as soon as she was clean, the door was opened and she was ushered back into the main cell. The vibrator was replaced in its harness as the Master watched, and Annette locked Joanna’s wrists and ankles to the leather covered box. She was blindfolded, a thick black velvet blindfold fitted over her eyes. She was on her back, long ways on the box, spread-eagle. She heard the Master walk around her, and heard the click of his camera shutter.

More pictures. She shivered, knowing she’d be in thrall to him forever because of them.

“These walls are completely soundproofed,” he said, as idly as if he discussed the weather. “If you make any noise, you will only be punished.” She heard a smile in his voice. “You may be punished anyway, if Annette decides she wants to punish you.”

The Master bent and cupped her jaw in his strong hand, rubbing his thumb across her lips. “Sleep well, my Joanna,” he murmured. “Your training has only just begun.”

Joanna trembled at the truth of it. Then they left, the harness on Annette’s belt jingling, and she was left bound in silence and darkness.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t long before she did sleep.

* * *

Mike couldn’t believe that this was happening to him. He was going to be a prize in a contest for sex, claimed by someone for a night of pleasure.

He didn’t doubt that there were members betting on the various outcomes possible.

This hadn’t been his plan when he’d come back to the Plume.

But he had surrendered to Athena.

He should have known she’d challenge his expectations.

Mike fought, but had no chance against the six hooded thugs, each of whom was as big as he was. They were powerful and purposeful, removing his fetters and chaining him to that steel pillar with relentless efficiency. He wondered whether he knew any of them, but it was impossible to tell with them wearing those hoods. He wondered whether he had dominated any of them in the past, if any of them were getting even.

It didn’t much matter. In minutes, he was swinging over the sea of cherry gelatin, its surface choppy after the last fight. Cherry gelatin. Honest to God, only Athena would think of that. He could feel the petroleum jelly beneath his feet, making the platform slippery even for him. Even though he knew he couldn’t get hurt, his heart pounded when he was hanging there, helpless, a prize to be claimed.

The big tattooed guy, Vlad, claimed a platform once more, roaring and beating his chest as he egged on the crowd. He’d never even surrendered the vest. Athena must be right about this being a game he liked, regardless of the prize.

An Asian guy took the second platform, his smile assessing as he surveyed Mike. He was wearing a latex bodysuit in vivid blue, but shed it for the game. His smile widened hungrily as he did up his safety vest.

A guy in biker leathers took the third platform. He was older but a popular favorite, the cheers of encouragement rivaling those given to the big guy. This guy proved to be studded and tattooed as well, his body a canvas for ink and sterling. He kept his dog collar on, his earring glinting in the light as he bowed to his supporters.

Mike had been taken by men before, and he’d taken his share of them himself. He liked that sex could be rougher when men partnered with each other, that it could be harder and faster and was more of a balance of equals. He liked knowing instinctively what turned on his partner, because he was made exactly the same way. He liked wrestling before sex, and the best wrestling was always with other guys.

Because no one had to hold back.

He wished he was unchained and competing with the others. He’d totally nail this game.

But he could only watch.

Suddenly the crowd began to hoot at higher volume. Mike looked to the fourth corner and saw Athena stripping out of her red latex. His heart froze, then galloped. She tied her hair back in a ponytail, then locked the safety vest around her waist. Her smile was filled with anticipation and determination.

Then the bell rang and all four contenders leapt into the gelatin. The lights beneath illuminated their legs, showing the sheer power of their movements. Mike could hear them grunting with the effort of racing toward him and he could hear their breath becoming labored.

Athena shoved the Asian guy hard, so hard that he stumbled. He leapt on her back, though, taking her down into the gelatin with a wet splash. The crowd roared, watching them fight for ascendancy beneath the surface. Both chains were hauled upward, the pair of them wrestling as the red gelatin dropped from their bodies.

Athena was all sleek strength, and she moved with a grace and power that made Mike’s mouth go dry. She wrapped herself around the Asian guy like a serpent, squeezing him as he struggled against her grip. They swung above the gelatin, writhing and struggling.

Athena abruptly twisted herself around the guy’s waist, and locked her mouth around his cock. He cried out in mingled surprise and pleasure, his bellow making the crowd roar. Athena sucked hard on him, moving with such purpose that Mike wanted his cock to be in her mouth. He knew how artful she could be and how persuasive.

The guy had no chance. He came in moment, shaking violently with his release. Athena leapt back into the gelatin, leaving him hanging there, sated. She headed for Mike. Her eyes were shining with triumph and he smiled at the sight of her.

Vlad seized the platform from the other side then, pushing the tattooed guy aside with his foot. The studded guy went down in the gelatin, crying out as he slipped. Mike saw the silver stud on his tongue just before he disappeared. His chain was hauled upward then, and he swung around, shaking gelatin out of his mouth and laughing.

Then Vlad grinned and went down on Mike. His mouth was big, his tongue heavy, his touch demanding as a woman’s never could be. He started to suck and Mike thought he’d lose his mind. His hips pumped.

The crowd cheered as Athena swung herself on to the platform. She had one arm locked around Mike’s ankles, her eyes twinkling. She jammed her fingers between the big guy’s toes and he yelled out, releasing Mike.

“Tickle, tickle, Vlad,” Athena taunted, her fingers sliding between the guy’s toes.

“No,” he begged, his voice rising higher. “Not fair, Athena.”

“All’s fair in love and war,” Athena taunted.

“No, there have to be rules,” Vlad protested.

Athena laughed. “No rules, Vlad.”

It was clear that Vlad was ticklish. He stamped his foot, trying to free himself, but Athena reached up and grabbed his cock in her hand. She squeezed, her nails digging into him, and he toppled on the edge of the platform. His mouth went round, Athena bent to push her tongue between his toes and then he fell with a roar.

He splashed into the gelatin, then was hauled up by his harness to dangle overhead, legs and arms flailing.

But Athena had already pulled herself up the length of Mike to claim her prize. She was an Amazon princess, strong enough to hold her weight above him. She hauled herself over him, burying his face between her breasts. He hungrily licked gelatin off her skin, then suckled her nipples, his dick pumping with the promise of her claim.

She bent her legs and folded her feet around his cock, trapping him between the arches of her feet. She moved her feet up and down, driving him crazy, milking him with her toes and heels and the smooth skin of her arches. She was sleek and powerful, like a cat, dominating him completely and there was nowhere else Mike wanted to be. He strained against his bonds, wanting more and more.

Athena turned, displaying herself to the cheering crowd. She still hung above him, but her butt was against his chest, her feet still tormenting him. Mike groaned, fearing that he’d come before she got done with him.

“All mine?” she murmured.

“Completely yours,” Mike agreed.

“Then it’s time for a reward.” Athena lowered herself onto him with purpose. Mike caught his breath as Athena ground her butt against his cock, then spread her legs wide and took him inside her. She was tight and hot, fitting around him like a wet sheath. He closed his eyes, dizzy with pleasure.

She leaned back, leaning her head on his shoulder. When he looked at her, her eyes danced. “Make it look good, superstar. The line of people wanting you will go all around the block by the time I’m done.”

“What about the ones wanting you?” He glanced down the sleek length of her, noticing how her gold belly ring caught the light, how smooth and tanned her skin was. She was beautiful, so magnificent and strong. She would kill him.

And he would love every minute of it.

“They all do already,” she said with a laugh. “Now, it’s show time.” She braced her feet on his knees, locking her toes beneath the inflexible chain, and began to move on him. She slid up and down, her eyes closed in pleasure.

She didn’t see the guy with the studs haul himself up on the base of the platform. She didn’t guess that he was there, until he caught her knees in his hands and locked his mouth over her glistening puss.

Mike remembered the tongue stud just as Athena cried out in delight. Her hips began to move with irresistible force. Mike hung on as long as he could, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes as she pumped and pumped and pumped. The guy with the stud in his tongue drove her crazy, licking and teasing and growling into her snatch. They ground together, the three of them, and the crowd pounded out the beat with their feet.

And when Mike finally came, the heat shot through every molecule in his body, incinerating everything that had ever come before. He came and came until he was completely milked dry, dimly aware of the roar of approval from the crowd.

It was a perfect game.

And he wanted to play again.

Athena laughed as the platform was swung through the air to again. Mike was still chained and she touched him, flaunting her power over him. The guy with the stud had returned to the crowd, and was surrounded like a returning hero. Vlad watched sullenly, back on the first platform and waiting for another round. The Asian guy smiled at Athena as if she’d hung the moon. The members hooted and shouted, catcalling at the pair of them.

Mike was euphoric. He loved when Athena’s eyes sparkled like this, when her expression was filled with unpredictability and mischief. The gelatin in her hair and on her cheeks made her look long and impulsive. She caught him looking and picked a chunk of gelatin off her breast, then popped it into his mouth.

“Delicious,” he said with a smile, not just talking about the gelatin.

Athena laughed, carefree and jubilant. “What ever made her imagine that anything or anyone out there could satisfy you?” she demanded in a throaty whisper.

Mike had nothing to say. He didn’t know.

Their gazes held for an electric moment, Athena’s eyes shining with triumph.

He thought of Joanna then, of his feelings for her, and wondered whether he’d been completely crazy to come back.

Or had he been crazy to imagine that he could have vanilla sex for the rest of his life? A house in the burbs. A station wagon. Two kids and a golden retriever.

In exchange for sacrificing all of this?

Then Athena, however inadvertently, changed his mind. She brushed her lips lightly against his, as if they were just passing acquaintances, then stepped off the platform and turned away. An attendant came immediately to her side, picking gelatin out of her hair, fussing and cooing. Athena peeled off her vest and handed it to the attendant, flicking the barest glance back at Mike.

“Give him to Charlie,” she instructed, her tone hard. She waved her fingertips at the guy with the tongue stud. “With my compliments.”

Mike was stunned. He knew this was the way it should be played. He knew that there shouldn’t be permanent commitments between members of the Plume.

But he realized that that was what made the experience empty for him. Without an emotional connection or commitment, it was just pleasure.